I first read this book in 1979, when it came out, and it has stuck in my mind since then. There was a wave of this type of novel back then - the almost superhuman, martial-arts-trained, super intelligent spy/assassin, fighting against all the odds, usually in the form of some corporate threat. Not quite like Bond, because these 'heroes' had no organisational back-up, and were usually of a type that would make Bond look like an infant.
   Shibumi works quite well, and doesn't overdo the banging on about the failings of the human race and Western society in particular. I quite re-enjoyed it. I guess it's agood enough read if you like this type of thriller (think Lustbader), and I certainly wouldn't try to dissuade anyone from reading it.